KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time in 45 years, local primary school SK Sri Petaling will be staging its first ever children’s charity musical at Panggung Eksperimen Universiti Malaya from Friday till Sunday.
Dubbed Jasa Putera Charity Musical Theatre, it is inspired by the long-running Broadway play, The King And I.
The three-day musical, a collaboration between the school and University Malaya’s (UM) Cultural Centre, is hoped to raise RM500,000 from the sale of tickets to fund its repairing cost, including refurbishing the school hall.
Among the dignitaries to attend the charity show during its opening on Nov 6 is Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah who is also the University Malaya Chancellor and his consort Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim.
SK Sri Petaling's Parent-Teacher Association head Azrina Arshad said the musical will also see 33 pupils aged between 8 and 12 singing and dancing to the original scores.
“The students were selected from a series of auditions held last June and July, which was conducted by UM’s Performing Arts department.”
“Some of them have background in singing, dancing and even acting since they are members of the school’s choral speaking club, choir as well as gamelan. But they’ve never done all three in one single staging. So this is something new for them.
“So far, the response from the public has been great, especially from the parents,” Azrina said in a telephone interview.
Azrina also added the pupils have been getting proper training in singing and dance from the university.
“UM has been very cooperative in ensuring that our pupils give their best for the show,” she added.
So far, the school has raised about RM180,000 from donations, ticket sales and corporate sponsorship.
“We still have some 800 tickets available,” she said.
Jasa Putera Charity Musical Theatre tells of Prince Iskandar who, on his 12th birthday, will leave for England to further his studies. Having to separate from his good friends, he persuades his father to instead bring in the best teachers from England to tutor him.
Tickets to the Jasa Putera Charity Musical Theatre are priced between RM30 and RM150. Friday’s show is at 8.30pm while the weekend shows are at 2.30pm.
For more information, contact 03-7967 3454 (UM) or 03-7956 7623 (SK Sri Petaling).